Ballina boy Donnelly joins the Titans
Former Ballina rugby league junior Ian Donnelly, pictured, says he can’t wait to make a contribution to the Gold Coast Titans in the National Rugby League competition.
The powerhouse Melbourne front-rower has signed a two-year contract with the Jetstar Gold Coast Titans effective immediately.
Donnelly said: “I am a North Coast boy from Ballina, so this is a dream come true for me to come up and play rugby league with the Jetstar Gold Coast Titans right in my family’s back yard.
“The Titans look to be a very ambitious club. They have already established a first class roster and I can’t wait to get there and make a contribution.”
The Titans say that, at 185cm and 110kgs, Donnelly is a powerful, disciplined prop with a huge appetite for doing the hard yards.
An instrumental member of the Melbourne Storm’s successful forward pack last season, Donnelly will commence training with the Jetstar Gold Coast Titans this afternoon and will be available to play in the side’s next match against West Tigers.
For coach John Cartwright, Donnelly’s arrival can’t come quickly enough following season ending injuries to Michael Henderson and Brad Myers.
Cartwright said. “We had actually looked at the possibility of signing Ian during the early stages of assembling our team because we recognised that his size and strength would be a huge asset to the side, so to get him at this stage of the season and know that he is also on the books for 2008 is a real bonus.
“Ian was an important player during Melbourne’s charge towards the grand final last year. He has played very well for them so far this season, and I am confident he will slot straight into our system and provide Luke Bailey with some much-needed assistance up front.”
Ian Donnelly Profile.
D.O.B 28/01/1981
Position Front Row
Height 185cm
Weight 110kgs
NRL Debut 2003
Previous NRL Clubs St George, Manly, Melbourne.
Ian has played 61 NRL matches scoring two tries.
Ian was a member of the St George 2001 first division Premiership winning team.
